1917
The following word from Don Brooks clearly indicates Reunion plans are realh going ahead: "I just took a look in my crystal ball and what I saw there came as no great surprise for I have known for some time that great days are in store for those who return to Hanover for our belated re" union. Every man in the Class is expected to serve on the Reunion Committee and each can help by doing a bit of missionary work among those who have doubts about attending. It should not be necessary to coax anyone to return, but if it is, let's coax!
"Early indications are that a grand bunch will be on hand and the greater the attendance, the greater the fun will be for all.
Gil Swett has sent out his first batch ot "Are you coming cards?" and the responses so far have been most encouraging. From present indications, we will have a large leunion.
GENERAL GOSSIP (emanating from returns received on Reunion mailing): TommyThompson writes from Concord that he'll be there "if the doc lets him." Seems he acquired a heart recently, the usual complication some of us get in our sixth decade... . Walt Walters will definitely be there, since his "Little Woman" has a Wellesley Reunion at the same time. Walt has a bonny suggestion, especially for those who like himself are coming a long distance and want to make a real vacation of it. "Why not, says Walt, "try to get as many as possible to come two or three days early? How about rooms if we d0?"... . Hank Bomgardner a definite yes, all the way from Scotts Bluff, Neb.... Jack Saladine says "Yes God willing and 1 hielschei! A partnership of long standing, that SaladineThielscher combination. Barney says, "Hope so," but we'll lay odds he'll be there.. .. George Gregory sends regrets from Morristown" "Illness for both of us is the cause." George has been having tough luck with the doctors for four years. ... Larry Lock-wood hopes to bring both his wife and his i2-year old son up from Virginia Beach. ... ParkerKarnan hopes to bring his wife and 16-year old daughter on from Pennslyvania RussFisher hopes to bring his 13-yr. old daughter with him, from Wilmington, Del, .. . RegSmith sends regrets from Albion, Mich. "Family weddings," says Reg, "just at that time. Otherwise I'd sure make it.". .. WaynePalmer, from Mobile, writes that he's trying to make a foursome with the Doug Flemings from Corpus Christi, to come up together Author and Indian scout Dick Morenus isn't sure yet, but is planning to make the grade, with Mrs. Morenus, all the way from Sioux Falls, S. D. .. .
From the above you will understand when I say that the reunion spirit is really beginning to "pop. Doc Waltevs wants to know why a big gang can't get to Hanover a few days ahead of reunion. More power to any of the boys who can get up there early, and suggest you get accommodations well ahead of time.
I have appointed the following Nominating Committee for the selection of the new nineman Executive Committee. This Executive Committee, as you all know, acts as the Nominating Committee for officers to be elected at our Reunion Meeting in Hanover. Anyone who has any ideas will be conferring a favor if they will contact Pete Olds, who is the Chairman of the Class Nominating Committee. The other members are Gene Towler,Ralph Sanborn, Arch Gile and Doc Walters.
Ned Dewey, whose letters have been too few and far between, writes as follows:
"As for myself, for the past 16 years I have been studying the rythmic cycles that seem to be present in most aspects of natural and social phenomena.
"If you study one little thing long enough ana talk about it enough, you acquire some little reputation for knowledge. This is gratifying but as you learn more about your chosen field or study you become acutely aware of your own ignorance, and this is not so gratifying.
"If it is really true that you know more about your subject than anybody else, you hate to think how really little the other people must know because you know that you, yourself, know almost nothing for sure
"I still maintain my New York office but I live and work in the western part of Pennsylvania on an ancestral estate. If people want to see me badly enough they find their way here, but very few people have such a peculiar urge, with the result that I have much more time to myself than I would if I were in the middle of things.
"As you know, I am a renegade and went to Harvard after one year at Dartmouth. However, 1 still look back upon my Dartmouth days with joy and nostalgia. Those were the good old days, were they not? Including the hazing by the noble Class of '16. It was all good fun and it is pleasant to look back upon."
Trott King sent along a few lines: "Don't seem to have much of any news. About all I have on my mind at this time of year is to get out at some of the lobsters, crabs, fish, clams, etc.. that hang around my front yard out on the island. Long Island, and get 'em into my 'beaner.' Taste awful good."
Bill Eaton sends in the following interesting letter:
"In this vicinity I have seen a lot of my old side kick, Bill Sewall. Sandy Lynch lives here and I see him and his three Dartmouth sons occasionally. Have talked with Fred Hager and Earl Robinson who live in Johnstown. Hope to get them heading toward Hanover in June. Mott Brown is about due to hit this town and that means a real Dartmouth bull session.
"We were lucky enough to have the basketball team here for two games during the Christmas holidays. These games and our Father and Sons luncheon, at which we had the team and Doggie Julian kept Dartmouth alive for this period.
"Last Friday we had Prof. Burns arrive for our annual dinner which brought out about 80 Dartmouthites. Now we are planning for the Glee Club which will be here April 1.
"Personally, I have been very busy since December 1 interviewing young Dartmouth hopefuls. Have seen about 30 so far and expect a few more before applications for next fall close. Hope to find a few athletes among the group. It is not hard to find the athletes, but to get them into Dartmouth is a different matter.
"Alumni Fund activity will start soon and then reunion. Hope these two will go over big."
Russ Fisher writes about his "doings": "Mary and I have conducted a Travel Bureau here in Wilmington since August, 1929. A de- pression and war had given us our 'ups and downs. Since the war it has been an 'up' steadily until the Coronation and Rotary Convention this year - a new high
"We have capable assistants, but our old clients demand one of us, Mary or me, to plan their trips. They expect us to know 'first hand' about every place. Thus, our various itineraries covering nearly a million miles of chiefly air and ground transportation are not only busman s holidays, but nearly entirely solos. They include North and South Africa, South America, the Caribbean area, Mexico, etc."
Trenny Trenholm sends a lengthy letter from Cape Elizabeth, Me.
"Saw three football games this past fall, two of which we won. October 18 we sat by Mel Palin, the old Deke, at the Rutgers game which we won 29-20. Then at the Yale Bowl the 'Dekes' still were in our hair when handsome old Frank Lagay, of the spiked shoe Lagays of Jersey, sat next to me. How handsome and sartoriously impeccable can these old timers get? Between the halves saw Sam White; looked pretty good too.
"On the stop-over in Forest Hills on the up trip after Christmas, I got to the Dartmouth Club in New York one noon and there I ran into a club 'man of distinction,' one handsome '17er, DonO'Leary. Hadn't seen him since we were boys. So at his invitation I horned in on somewhat of a cribbage fracas, with some others from Hanover plains. As I remember it, I was mildly successful in a financial way. but not enough to buy gas back up here to Maine. Don amused me by griping, Trenny, are you one of those old fashioned guys who is still married to the same woman?' When I assured him that such was the case, he said he was too and thought we both were OK. It was good to see Don looking so well and he surely knows his cribbage.
"Am sending small Kuomingtang, 1000 Yuan note, for your collection. I have a few of these left and we might give one as a prize to the classmate who comes the longest distance to the June Reunion, what say? The handsome Chinese on the note is the father of the 1911 Revolution which overthrew the Manchu dynasty, Sun Yat Sen. The 'teacher' of my old buddy Chiang Kai Shek."
Our Memorial Chairman Gil Swett is a busy man. Gil has been named to the Advisory Group of Verona Office of Montclair Trust. He has been in the real estate and insurance business for the past 30 years and has been a a partner of North & Swett since 1946. A clipping from the Montclair Times February 5 states:
"A veteran of both World Wars he was a Navy pilot in Italy during the first war, and was with the Army Air Force from 1940 to 1946 holding the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was also one of the founders and second in command of the 119 th Observation Squadron of the New Jersey National Guard.
"Mr. Swett is a member of. the American Institute of Appraisers and a former secretary of the New Jersey State Association of Real Estate Boards. He is also a member of the Montclair Dramatic Club and secretary of the Verona Rotary Club."
Skinny Sturtevant's cheerful note follows: "Have not run into any one, or done anything special, just digging along quietly on hobbies, including politics, without any heat on under any boilers. Of course the seed catalogues are out- giving ideas for gardening later. Am on the local A.M.C. trails committee this year, but so far have ducked any snow shoe scouts or winter mountain climbs (just not up to it this year).
"Wrote Gil that I would help him in the commencement round-up for reunion in this area, but aside from Chan, have not much faith that others will turn out - except possibly E. E. Smith, who seems to be taking an interest. None of the others show up at our Dartmouth Club gatherings.
"This does not help much. If any of the local brothers get in the pokey or make the news in any way, will let you know."
Roger Stone says the most important thingthat has happened to his family is the discharge from the Army of his son Bill, aftertwo years of service divided equally betweenCamp Pickett, Va., and the Bavarion section ofGermany. Bill has found a job with a firm engaged in publicity photography in New York.Rog also mentioned that he has correspondedwith Sam MacKillop, and held short curbstone reunions with Leon Randall and WaltCarr. Also advises that he is selling reunionwherever it is necessary. (That is what we liketo hear Rog!)
A few excerpts from a letter from Sam MacKillop:
"Saw Sumner Emerson, who was enjoying a mid-winter vacation at the Inn, a couple of weeks ago. He had just visited Don Aldrich at Dick's House. It seems Don was in Hanover for a conference and came down with virus pneumonia, but was then recovering and about to go home. NemoStreeter visited us before Thanksgiving to Hanover to get his son Jimmy - a freshman."
The following letter from Fred Houghton brings us up-to-date on his activities:
"After my freshman year, 1913-1914, at Dartmouth I graduated from the University of Chicago, 1917, and the University of Chicago Law School, 1919, after serving meanwhile as what would now be a Wac in World War I.
"The letterhead and enclosure show some of my activities. I hope soon to be a better '17er and should, as I treasure my 1913-1914 DartmouthFreshman Greenbook very highly. I suggest a poll to determine how many of these books are in existence and who has them.
"This town, Las Vegas, and this County (Clark) are growing like asparagus in Hadacol, but have some astonishing, but apparently not insoluble, civic problems. I have never married. I mention this because I feel it. Such hospitality and sights as the Blue Chip Wonder Ranch affords are open to '17ers when they are in Las Vegas.
"Indications are that 'progress' has moved the White Church off the campus square. If so, I deem that a mistake, because nothing was more typical New England."
Congratulations to Don Green who has become a grandfather! His pride and joy is a granddaughter. (Welcome into the fold.)
Hearing from our old friends like MyronFales (one year at Dartmouth) is full compensation to any Class Secretary. Myron writes, "My son, 19, and Junior, is a sophomore at Oklahoma University, studying Chemical Engineering.
"Elizabeth Whitten, Connecticut College 1923, is Mrs. Fales."
Word has just been received that JohnChesley passed away at his home in Mount Holley, N. J., after a very sudden illness of four days. John was always such a lovable character while in College and since graduation spent a large part of his time for the benefit of his community. The Class of 1917 sincerely express their deepest sympathy to Mrs. Chesley and the family.
Changes in address are as follows: Ralph R. Britton, 6119 Wynnwood Rd Wood Acres, Washington 16, D. C.; Elmer H. Englehorn 7000 Lincoln Drive, Philadelphia 19, Pa., and Fred B. Houghton, 4369 Smoke Ranch Rd., Las Vegas, Nev.
REUNION DATES: JUNE 19 to 21, 1953.
CALIFORNIANS: Carl Eskeline 'l6 and his wife Lucille find the sunshine congenial, as they sit in front of their home in Santa Barbara.
WORK AND MORE WORK: Len Reade 'l7 writes that's all he does; and if he isn't at the office, he's cutting grass, or soon will be.
Secretary, 408 Frelinghuysen Ave., Newark 5, N. J.
Class Agent, 205 Broadway, Cambridge, Mass.
